Steem4nigeria Accelerator Contest Week 120: What I Will Do Differently This Year

Good evening, Steemit family! Happy New Year!

It’s the seventh day of the year, and that energy of a new year is in the air. Thinking about the last year, 2025, I am grateful for the growth I experienced and setting up a strong determination to do more this year. Every year, I like to look back and identify what those things are that didn’t go as I planned them and make plans for improvement. There is no difference this year, either.

Yes, there were some things I didn't do well in 2025, particularly regarding time management and consistency in my studies and freelance writing.

Firstly, time management and consistency, especially in my studies and freelance writing. I often delayed on assignments and my writing gigs until deadlines were close. This often leads to unnecessary stress, rushed work, and sometimes low-quality output.

Secondly, I didn’t perform my physical exercise as much as I wanted. As a human nutrition student, I should have known better, but I let busy schedules become an excuse. As a result of this, I get tired easily and sometimes lack the swiftness I need for other duties apart from academics. Lastly, I should be more consistent with posting quality content here on Steemit, but procrastination always discouraged me from doing so. Some days I posted regularly, and sometimes I disappeared, and it affected my engagement and rewards.

All of these didn’t ruin the year, but they make me feel like I could have achieved more with the same 24 hours everyone else had.

The main factors were procrastination, poor planning, and overcommitting without boundaries. I always say yes to too many things – extra choir commitments, helping friends with projects, and social media scrolling – and then wonder where my time went. Distractions from my phone and lack of a proper daily routine played a big role too. Another factor was perfectionism: sometimes I avoided starting tasks because I wanted them to be perfect from the first try.

Yes, I definitely know better now. 2025 taught me that consistency beats perfection, that saying no protects my peace and productivity, and that small daily habits become big results.

Absolutely, there’s a need to do better because none of these areas are irrelevant. Managing my time very well and being consistent will surely help me do better in my studies, get more income, and stay active on Steemit. As a student studying nutrition, I want to live what I am learning; I will be prioritising my exercise and health, as they are not negotiable. And I'm sure that these foundational habits will impact every other area of my life: academic, spiritual growth, relationships, career, and even my mood.

• Better Time Management: I’ll use a simple planner (digital or physical) to create time and schedules for my studies, writing, exercise, and rest. There's no more time for procrastination.

• Daily Exercise: I will make sure I do exercise for at least 30 minutes most days. Maybe by taking walks, doing home workouts, or stretching. Small but consistent.

• Consistent Steemit Presence: One of my goals is to make sure I write at least three quality pieces of content per week on Steemit, and I engage actively in the community more than before.

• Reduce Distractions: I will set limits for my phone, especially the time I spend on social media, in order for me to focus on my work.

• To Say No When Needed: I will learn how to say no to some requests. In order to protect my time and energy for what truly matters.

I feel happy, full of hope, and honestly geared up. The new year feels like something powerful, a fresh start like a clean book waiting to be filled with stories. As much as I’m thankful for the lessons of 2025, I’m moving into 2026 with faith, intention, and a spirit of optimism.

What about you, dear Steemian? What’s that one thing you will do differently in 2026? Share with us in the comments and let us inspire and hold each other's hands to more growth this year.